Quoting, BOMs and order intake
Turn enquiries into accurate quotes faster, pull together bills of materials without the copy-paste, and stop losing a morning to every new order. Fewer errors, quicker replies, better win rates.
AI for manufacturing
AI consultancy for manufacturers
Less time on the back office. More time on the bench.
Most manufacturing owners didn't get into this to spend their evenings on quotes, spreadsheets and supplier chasing. But that's where the hours go. Longtable helps small and bespoke manufacturers hand the repetitive admin to systems that quietly get on with it — so your team can spend more time making, and less time managing.
We're not a tech firm that read a case study about your industry. Tom, who founded Longtable, also runs a joinery and fit-out business. We know what a rush order does to a schedule, what a wrong BOM costs you, and why "just add a system" is easier said than done.
Where it earns its place
Where AI actually earns its place in a manufacturing business.
We start with the unglamorous work — the tasks that drain hours every week without ever showing up as a job well done.
Production scheduling and capacity
See what your real capacity is, spot the bottleneck before it bites, and re-plan when a rush job lands — without redrawing the whole board by hand.
Supplier, stock and compliance admin
Chase suppliers, track stock and keep compliance records straight with a lot less manual effort. The paperwork that has to happen, happening quietly in the background.
Reporting and the weekly numbers
The margin report, the job costing, the “where are we this month” — pulled together automatically instead of stitched from five spreadsheets.
How we work
How we work with manufacturers.
Four small, considered pieces of work — chosen for the difference they make, not the noise they create.
Consultancy — the plan
We map where AI genuinely helps your factory, and where it won't. A clear plan shaped around your priorities, your people and how you already work.
Implementation — the build
We don't hand over a strategy deck and leave. We build the systems, connect the tools, and make sure the work actually gets done.
Training — bringing the team along
The best tool fails if nobody uses it. We train your team so they feel confident and capable, not sidelined.
Governance — keeping it safe
Guardrails so your systems stay reliable, secure and aligned with how you run things. Safety built in from the start.
Why Longtable
Why manufacturers work with Longtable.
We've run a real operation.
Not theory — lived experience of quotes, schedules, suppliers and margin.
People first, always.
We build around your team, not over the top of them.
Small, sharp, and close.
No bloated projects. We stay close while it beds in.
Plain English.
No jargon, no hype. If we can't explain it simply, we won't sell it to you.
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
What kind of manufacturers do you work with?
Owner-led, small-batch and bespoke manufacturers — typically 5 to 150 people, where the founder is still close to the work. Joinery, fabrication, furniture, small-run and made-to-order production are our sweet spot.
Is AI safe to use in a manufacturing business?
Yes, when it's set up properly — which is exactly why governance is one of our four pillars. We put guardrails around what the systems can and can't do, keep your data protected, and make sure a human stays in control of the decisions that matter.
We're not very technical. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Most of the owners we work with would rather be on the floor than in front of a screen. That's the point — we build and run the technical side so you don't have to become an AI expert.
How quickly will we see a difference?
The fastest wins are usually in quoting and admin — often within weeks. Bigger changes like scheduling take a little longer to bed in. We start where the time-saving is quickest and most obvious.
How do we get started?
Start a conversation. We'll talk through where the hours are going in your business, and whether we're the right fit. No decks, no pressure.